Real estate agent Mitch James says technology has come at a cost in his industry. Photo: Supplied.
When we think of disruptive technology that in some cases has made professions obsolete, the real estate industry does not readily spring to mind.
Agents still work from offices, dress in smart outfits and drive shiny cars, and business seems to trot along as usual.
However, Mitch James, who has been moving properties for nearly two decades, begs to differ. In fact, he believes change brought on by technology in his industry has gone too far.
Mitch, who is sales manager for One Agency Elite Property Group, covering from Wollongong to Jervis Bay, says he has given this topic a lot of thought over recent years.
“In some ways, technology has been good because it’s had a massive impact in terms of what information people can access online about properties they’re interested in,” Mitch says.
”And it also gives them the power to access documents such as contracts and building and strata reports.
“Open houses are still going but many people choose to take online virtual tours, which now have a pretty amazing feature called meta tags that allows you to click on, say, the dishwasher in the kitchen, which then gives you the appliance’s dimensions and even warranty details.”
And then there is the quirky side of technology, Mitch says.
“I recently read about a New Zealand real estate agent who used a drone to send keys to one of his tenants who had been locked out of his house.
“However, what bothers me most is that a lot of the verbal and face-to-face communication has been lost because there is too much reliance on technology, so much of the human interaction has been lost in the process.
“We are one of the easiest bashing boards across most industries, and I get that because some agents give us a bad rap.
“But the good ones know the value their advice and experience can bring to what is often one of the most important decisions in a person’s life.
“I’d say 50 per cent of my clients are going through a divorce, so that means you often have vulnerable people who need extra care and guidance, and not just information thrust at them.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received phone calls and messages after 10 pm from people who become anxious and indecisive because of what’s going on in their lives.”
On a lighter note, he says his job also involves a ton of variety and sometimes a few surprises.
“A few years ago, I remember turning up for a morning open house at a suburb south of Wollongong to find the husband in a bed with a woman who was not his wife.
“I just backed out of the room and waited on the porch until the hubby came out and apologised, and we carried on as normal.”
On another occasion, when dealing with a deceased estate, Mitch stepped through the door and started walking down the hall when two massive German shepherds came barrelling towards him.
“Luckily I reached the screen door before they did,” he says with a chuckle.
Given rollercoaster markets and the sometimes intrusive element of technology, does he ever see himself moving on from real estate?
“No,” he says decisively. “Despite the fact many people think all we do is open a front door and turn on the lights, we still play an important role in giving support and context to the mountain of online noise.”
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